“Otto, if this young man lives long enough, he could be very useful to our propaganda department. The current people of our country are war weary, restive. They need to be provided with a hero of their own. Von Richthofen, Willi, have our class. As far as Stachel, he’s as common as dirt. He’s one of them. Understand?” – General Count von Klugermann

Number of Times Seen – 1 (8 Nov 2018)

Brief Synopsis – During World War I, a German pilot does all he can in order to receive the highest medal awarded to flyers The Blue Max.

My Take on it – This is a film that I had never even heard of before seeking a World War I film to watch and review for this blogathon.

I think I made a great choice because it manages to show the lengths that a pilot is willing to go to in order to prove that he is the best of the best not only up in the air but also in every other aspect of life including love.

This film does a great job presenting the idea of honor vs. bragging rights since the cocky pilots only wish to claim as many victories as possible even if they are questionable from a moral standpoint.

George Peppard is great in the lead role because he is able to give off the feeling that he is both a brash pilot yet also macho enough to do whatever he feels is right in order to get what he wants in life.

The character can easily be seen by the audience as one that we can root for yet still question the choices he makes in his quest for glory at all costs.

Mason is great as one of his commanders that believes that honor for their country should be at the forefront of everything while still caring about morale.

Bottom Line – Interesting story that works very well as it manages to show the lengths competitive pilot will go in order to show they are the best not only in the air but also in other parts of life. They do a great job presenting the idea of honor vs. bragging rights and is comes through really well. Peppard is great in the lead and get the macho-ism and brashness of his character just right that the viewer can care about him yet also question the methods he uses to gain his prestige. Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – Stunt pilot, Derek Piggott, flew both Stachel’s and Von Klugermann’s planes for the bridge storming scene. With multiple camera angles (including one from a trailing helicopter) Piggott actually flew under the bridge over twenty times. To prove that the sequence was real, sheep were placed in the field next to the bridge so that they would scatter as the plane approached. However, as can be seen in the continuity, by the 20th take the sheep had become blasé and didn’t scatter any more. (From IMDB)

As an amateur history buff and former USMC aviation officer, you are exactly right when you say the aerial component of t WWI gets overlooked. When you say “World War I” to most people, their minds go straight to trenches in France.

Such a solid film, isn’t it? I’ll recommend both Wings (1927) and Hell’s Angels (1930) for more WWi air action as well as The Big Parade (1925), All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) and of course, Paths of Glory (1957) for some excellent WWI films set in the trenches. Also, not sure if you’re into film music, but Jerry Goldsmith’s score to The Blue Max is phenomenal.

One of my favorite war movies. Brilliantly done. I actually saw it on a big screen originally and many times since on TV (own the DVD). Can’t believe you got through the whole review without mentioned Ursula Andress – who plays Mason’s wife who becomes another of Peppard’s non-flying conquests. Also, you partially missed the point – Peppard begins the war in the infantry – and becomes a pilot – which was the elite group of the German war machine in WWI.because he’s not from a wealthy family – as were many of the pilots – AND came from the infantry – he is looked down upon by the others and has to prove his worth not only as a pilot but as a human being. It is that constant contest – which he wins over and over – that leads to his downfall. Peppard is excellent and the flying sequences are some of the best I’ve ever seen on film – including the climactic sequence where he flies the new plane. It is beautifully editing in both the pictures and the sound and the close ups of Andress’s face as well as mason’s (and his adjutant officer). The way the scenes are shot – with swooping planes whizzing past the observers on the ground – gowned women and men in top hats it always looked to me almost like a Lautrec painting come to life.